AIRLINE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER PASSENGER SPOTS TERRIFYING MESSAGE ON ANOTHER PASSENGERS PHONE

According to reports, an inquisitive passenger misread a harmless text message that another traveller had received, forcing an emergency landing on an American Airlines aircraft.

Just 32 minutes after taking off on its flight to Dallas, Texas, the jet that had left San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Thursday, July 3, was forced to land when a passenger noticed a message to another person that they thought was suspicious. After seeing the alleged suspicious message, the traveller immediately alerted the cabin crew, initiating emergency procedures.

She informed staff that she had read the foreboding phrase RIP, which stands for "rest in peace," on the person's phone and assumed it meant the flight was in danger, according to The Mirror.

The pilot was instructed to land as soon as possible after the crew member aboard the AA 1847 warned the cockpit. According to USA Today, local authorities examined the passenger and looked into his phone and text conversations after the emergency landing in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.

According to the news source, the traveller stated that a family member had sent them the comforting "RIP" message because his father had passed just a few days prior. He was travelling to Dallas to assist with burial arrangements and grieve with his family following the tragedy. 

The Transport Security Administration and airport security also thoroughly inspected the aircraft and interrogated the passenger who had sounded the alert.

The plane was deemed safe to fly once more when local officials verified the innocent passenger's account. It then flew to Dallas, where it touched down on Friday, July 4. The Office of Explosive and Public Safety in the US territory also attested that the text exchange did not constitute any real threat.

According to The Independent, the experience caused a three-and-a-half-hour delay on the flight, during which passengers had to stay on board the aircraft while the inquiry was conducted. Aerostar Airport Holdings, which oversees the San Juan airport, deemed it a "mix-up," thus no arrests were made.

"The mix-up was resolved in compliance with safety procedures." Nelman Nevarez, the operations director of Aerostar Airport Holdings, said in a statement that there was no actual danger to the aircraft or its occupants. "The flight landed safely at SJU, and law enforcement inspected and cleared the aircraft to re-depart," the statement from American Airlines added.

"We sincerely apologise to our consumers for any inconvenience, and safety and security are our top priority."